EU reaches deal on flagship cybersecurity law
The European Parliament and EU member states have reached an agreement over new rules intended to protect Europe's public and private critical entities from cyberattacks.
Stakeholder
The CPDP conference wants multidisciplinary digital future
During the Computers, Privacy and Data Protection (CPDP) conference, many high-level discussions will touch upon the dynamics of decision-making in the design of new technologies, including the importance of inclusion, diversity, and ethics perspectives within these processes.
EU Commission won't probe 'Pegasus' spyware abuse
The European Commission says people should file their complaints with national authorities in countries whose governments are suspected of using an Israeli-made Pegasus spyware against them.
News in Brief
- Dutch journalists sue EU over banned Russia TV channels
- EU holding €23bn of Russian bank reserves
- Russia speeds up passport process in occupied Ukraine
- Palestinian civil society denounce Metsola's Israel visit
- Johnson refuses to resign after Downing Street parties report
- EU border police has over 2,000 agents deployed
- Dutch tax authorities to admit to institutional racism
- Rutte calls for EU pension and labour reforms
Privacy concerns mount over Europol data collection
The EU's privacy watchdog has issued a warning about rules intended to empower the European police agency.
EU Commission wants to set world's first digital standards
The EU Commission wants to sign a joint declaration with the European Parliament and the EU Council by the summer and to have the principles act as "a reference" or "benchmark" for all in the bloc.
Opinion
Digital marketing should rejoice at more EU regulation
The Digital Services Act was adopted with a solid majority in the European Parliament plenary - and today, some marketing professionals weep. The result will be a fundamentally different digital eco-system, and this will change digital marketing too.
EU falling behind in global AI race, MEPs warn
MEPs have warned that the European Union is lagging behind the United States and China in the global race for Artificial Intelligence
Opinion
Pegasus: Are we becoming a Europe of spies?
I was spied on using Pegasus while being an MEP in the EU Parliament — this attack on the home of European democracy must have consequences.
Lead MEPs push against Big Tech recommendation algorithms
MEPs in the internal market committee reached a common position over the landmark Digital Service Act – new rules requiring companies like Google and Facebook to remove illegal content quicker and be more transparent about their controversial recommendation algorithms.
Progress on new rules brings EU 'closer to a fair tech market'
EU lawmakers placed new obligations on 'Big Tech' companies to allow people to install the operating system and app store they want – forcing Apple and Google to open up their ecosystems to third-party app stores.
Investigation
How Big Tech dominates EU's AI ethics group
Despite the responsibility for drafting the EU's artificial intelligence ethics guidelines, few of the expert group members were ethicists. In fact, 26 experts – nearly half of the group's 56 members – represented business interests.
Opinion
Gig economy workers need EU to end digital modern-day slavery
On Wednesday, the European Parliament is to adopt a report calling on the EU Commission to propose laws to better protect platform workers. The S&D want to ensure platform workers can be considered employees, with full social and worker's rights.
Big tech's EU lobby spending revealed, as key acts loom
The digital industry now has more lobbying power than pharmaceutical, fossil fuels, financial, or chemical sectors - spending annually over €97m to influence EU decision-making, according to a new report.
Opinion
Big data can save more lives, if used properly
Big data and evidence-based decision-making provide immense opportunities to improve health and well-being and prepare for the next crisis, if this force is applied for the good.
First glimpse of EU's new 'digital identity wallet'
The European Commission unveiled its plans for an EU 'digital identity wallet' - an app that will allow citizens to store their national digital identification or driver licence on their phones to access public and private services across the EU.
Bulgaria's burgeoning tech sector finds voice at election
Bulgaria's burgeoning information technology sector is becoming a voice of change – and parties are starting to take notice, as the country votes for a new parliament on Sunday.
Stakeholder
Podcast: 'Big Tech' and the threat to democracy
Do tech giants like Google, Apple or Facebook have too much power? Is their growing power a threat to democracy? These topics are highlighted in the latest Nordic Talks podcast, featuring three specialists - among them EU commissioner Margrethe Vestager.
Stakeholders' Highlights
- Nordic delegation visits Nordic Bridges in Canada
- Clear to proceed - green shipping corridors in the Nordic Region
- Nordic ministers agree on international climate commitments
- Efficient waste collection schemes, closed-loop recycling and access to recycled content are crucial to transition to a circular economy in Europe
- No digital future for the EU without Intelligent Automation? Online briefing Link
Latest News
- EU summit will be 'unwavering' on arms for Ukraine
- Orbán's new state of emergency under fire
- EU parliament prevaricates on barring Russian lobbyists
- Ukraine lawyer enlists EU watchdog against Russian oil
- Right of Reply: Hungarian government
- When Reagan met Gorbachev — a history lesson for Putin
- Orbán oil veto to deface EU summit on Ukraine
- France aims for EU minimum-tax deal in June
Leaked figures show EU efforts to secure and export vaccines
EU states have exported 24.7 million doses of vaccines to 31 countries - almost half the number compared to that they delivered to member states, leaked figures show.
Opinion
The 'Cold War' diplomacy behind Covid-19 vaccines
China and Russia aren't just selling vaccines—they're peddling a value set that undermines international norms.
EU blasts UK and Russia in 'vaccine propaganda' war
The EU and UK have reignited a row on vaccine exports, while Italy has defied EU warnings in a new deal to manufacture Russia's vaccine at home.
Worries on Europe's infection surge, after six-week drop
The World Health Organization warned of a surge in new coronavirus infections across Europe, pointing out healthcare systems should not be under pressure in some countries. Meanwhile, the European Medical Agency is reviewing Russia's Sputnik vaccine.
Column
'Leave Everyone Behind'? – The West's Covid nationalism
The EU is driving a hard "EU-first" policy on vaccines and almost nobody talks about it. Maybe because there is a lot of sugar-coating put on a hard and ruthless policy.
EU to propose Covid-free 'travel pass' ahead of summer
The European Commission is set to unveil a legislative proposal on a "digital green pass" to allow vaccinated people to travel more freely for the summer. But Belgium says the pass risks discrimination against people unable to get the jab.
Opinion
What Estonia and Slovakia did to beat AstraZeneca 'hesitancy'
Slovakia has launched a mass vaccination programme aimed at teachers and childcare workers. Estonia, for its part, has begun inoculating frontline workers including teachers, police officers and members of the armed forces ahead of schedule.
EU defends all vaccines, amid lower AstraZeneca take-up
The European Commission said that bloc's strict regulatory process for the evaluation and approval of vaccines is crucial to persuade citizens to get the jab, calling on member states to fight vaccine hesitancy with information.
EU Commission casts doubt on Russian Sputnik vaccine
Hungary is buying up vaccines from Russia and China. But tricky regulatory oversight questions remain as the European Commission sheds doubt on the quality and safety of Sputnik production.
France 'got its way' as Portugal ends e-Privacy deadlock
EU ambassadors reached a compromise on the e-Privacy reform after four years of deadlock, paving the way for trialogue negotiations. But the text was slammed for allowing "mass surveillance" under national data-retention laws, a crucial win for France.
EU leaders' social media 'fail' in first 40 days of pandemic
European leaders of countries hit worst by the first coronavirus outbreak failed to exploit the potential of social media, and their own millions of followers, to encourage citizens to comply with the rules, a new study has found.
EU admits redaction error in AstraZeneca contract
The European Commission published a redacted version of the AstraZeneca contract - only for large parts to be uncovered by using the bookmark tool in Adobe Acrobat's Reader. "It was certainly not our intention for this to happen," it said.
Analysis
Big tech: From Trump's best friend to censorship machine?
Trump's social-media ban and the power of platforms has come under public scrutiny in Europe. So what went wrong? And what's the best way forward?
EU's AI military strategy poses 'threat to Europeans'
A new report warns that the use of artificial intelligence and autonomous arms are fuelling military escalation for future conflicts and threaten peace in Europe and worldwide.
Opinion
How to fix EU's weak Digital Services and Markets Acts
The recent attack on the US Capitol reveals the toxicities of digital media platforms, but the European Commission's proposed competition laws won't fix it.
Opinion
Together Europe can beat pandemics, Alzheimer's, cancer
Let's expand the EU with a Health Union where cutting edge research and world-class applications go hand in hand. For this, it is worth being European, believing in Europe, working on Europe, writes European People's Party leader Manfred Weber MEP.
